USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 Farm Service Agency 

 Kansas City Commodity Office 

 P.O. Box 419205, MS 8698 

 Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

PL6

PEAS AND LENTILS

FOR USE IN EXPORT PROGRAMS

Effective Date: August 10, 2015
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

PL6

PEAS AND LENTILS

FOR USE IN EXPORT PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS ______________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES ____________________________________________________ 1

Section 1.2 INSPECTION-ALL COMMODITIES___________________________________ 1

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS_______________________ 1

Section 2.1 GENERAL _________________________________________________________ 1

Section 2.2 CONTAINERS AND MATERIAL______________________________________ 1

Section 2.3 50-KILOGRAM WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE BAGS_____________________ 2

Section 2.4 SEWING OF BAG SEAMS____________________________________________ 3

Section 2.5 PERFORMANCE TEST PROCEDURES________________________________ 3

Section 2.6 TEST FREQUENCY _________________________________________________ 4

Part 3 MARKING REQUIREMENTS__________________________________________ 5

Section 3.1 MARKINGS ________________________________________________________ 5

Section 3.2 MARKING DESCRIPTIONS__________________________________________ 6

Section 3.3 EMPTY BAG DIMENSIONS __________________________________________ 8

Section 3.4 CONTAINERS WITH INCORRECT MARKINGS _______________________ 8

Exhibit A ________________________________________________________________________ 9

Exhibits SMR-1 through SMR4 and LMR1 through LMR8 _____________________________ 10
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Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

A. Whole dry peas, split peas, and lentils shall meet the specifications as defined in the 

"Official United States Standards for Whole Dry Peas, Split Peas, and Lentils" in effect 

at the time the applicable solicitation for offers is issued. The standards are available 

at: http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/handbook/pealentil.aspx. 

B. Whole dry peas shall be of Class Smooth Green Dry Peas or Smooth Yellow Dry 

Peas and shall grade U.S. No. 2 or better, except U.S. No. 3 or better because of 

cracked seed coats. Split peas shall grade U.S. No. 2 or better. Lentils shall grade U.S. 

No. 3 or better.

Section 1.2 INSPECTION-ALL COMMODITIES

A. The contractor shall be responsible for arranging and obtaining FGIS, or any other 

organization designated by FGIS, official domestic and export weight and grade 

certificates. Procedures to follow and a schedule of fees for this service may be 

obtained at http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/serviceproviders_listing.aspx. Contractors 

are required to notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet contract 

requirements.

B. The average net weight of the sampled shipping units as determined by FGIS shall not 

be less than 98 percent of the marked net weight. Failure of the lot to meet the average 

net weight requirement shall cause rejection of the involved lot pursuant to FAR clause 

52.212-4(a).

C. If the product fails to meet contract specifications on one or more factors on the first 

inspection, the contractor may arrange with FGIS for subsequent inspections of the 

commodity. The inspections may be conducted at origin or a subsequent point of 

delivery if the provisions of Title 7 CFR 868.40 through 868.63 issued under the 

Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, with respect to retest, appeal, and 

new inspections can be met. When subsequent inspections of the product are made, the 

results of the last inspection will be used as the basis for payment under the contract.

D. FGIS will perform a condition of container examination in accordance with the United 

States Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) and the Agricultural 

Marketing Service Handbook for Inspection of the Condition of Food Containers.

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials 

requirements used under this contract. 

Section 2.2 CONTAINERS AND MATERIAL
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A. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the requirements 

of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe contact with the 

packaged product. The contractor shall obtain and maintain documentation 

from the container or packaging material manufacturer to verify that the 

containers and packaging materials used in this contract were in 

compliance with the Government’s regulatory requirements for safe 

contact with food products as required in the Master Solicitation, Part 3,

Section A, Number 3. 

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to:

USDA/FSA/DACO

Room 5755 – South Bldg, STOP 0551

1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20250-0551

ATTN: Packaging

C. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from a 

foreign country and/or the package and container is manufactured in a 

foreign country, the package and container SHALL NOT display country 

of origin labeling. Phrases similar to but not inclusive of, “Made in [Name 

of Foreign Country.]” or “Product of [Name of Foreign Country.]” are 

strictly prohibited. 

D. In addition, all containers and packaging materials shall be constructed to comply with 

the sum concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium 

addressed by the Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG) model legislation. The 

sum of the concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and/or hexavalent 

chromium present in any package or packaging component shall not exceed 100 parts 

per million. Concentration levels shall be determined using American Standard of 

Testing Materials test methods, as revised, or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

test methods for evaluating solid waste, S-W 846, as revised.

Section 2.3 50-KILOGRAM WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE BAGS

Woven polypropylene fabric and circular-woven style bags.

A. The color of the fabric shall be white, unless otherwise specified. At the contractor's 

discretion, it may use fabric containing marker yarns as a means of identifying the 

manufacturer of the fabric.

B. The polymer in the fabric shall be 100 percent virgin polypropylene with no recycled 

material. Rework product will be limited to excess material produced during the initial 

extrusion process and will be limited to the amount produced during normal continuous 

operation. A system to identify and document this process must be in place for review 

by the Government's audit personnel.
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C. The fabric in an unstressed state shall permit a minimum air flow of 3 cubic feet per 

minute per square foot and a maximum of 30 cubic feet per minute per square foot, 

when tested in accordance with ASTM Test Method D737, as amended.

D. The fabric shall be finished by coating or other suitable method to prevent slippage. 

Individual test results shall be 28 degrees or greater, when tested in accordance with 

TAPPI Test Method T-503-OM-84. The fabric shall accept and retain printing ink that 

will not rub or flake off to a degree where legibility is impaired.

E. The fabric shall be capable of resisting ultraviolet deterioration for a minimum of 200 

hours of exposure in a weatherometer, when tested in accordance with Test Method 

5804-Federal Standard 191, as amended. The fabric shall retain 70 percent of its 

original minimum tensile strength in each direction, after 200 hours exposure, when 

tested in accordance with Test Method ASTM D 5034 (Grab Test), as amended.

F. Bags may be flat tube or gusseted.

G. Bags may be extrusion coated. Extrusion coated bags shall have the proper number, 

size and location of micro perforations to achieve the air permeability rate required for 

product stability and fumigation, as well as filling efficiency.

Section 2.4 SEWING OF BAG SEAMS

A. All bag seams shall be sewn in a manner which prevents the product from leaking 

through the seams during handling, storage, and distribution.

B. The color of the sewing thread shall be natural or white. The tensile strength of the 

sewn seams shall not be less than the tensile strength of the fabric in the body of the 

bag.

C. The top and bottom of the bag shall be heat cut or otherwise finished to prevent fraying 

or unraveling of the fabric during distribution. The bottom seam shall be constructed in 

accordance with Federal Standard 751a, SSn-1 Single Turnover, as amended. A 

minimum of 4 stitches per inch is required.

Section 2.5 PERFORMANCE TEST PROCEDURES

A. All bags shall be capable of withstanding the following performance test for impact 

resistance.

(1) Ten filled and sealed bags shall each survive a single drop test on the butt and 

side on a shock machine that produces for each test a velocity change of 195 

inches per second using a shock duration of .002 seconds without loss of 

product.

(2) Testing shall be conducted under standard temperature (73.4 o F plus or minus 

1.8 o F) and relative humidity (50% plus or minus 2%) conditions.

(3) Filled bags shall be placed in the conditioned atmosphere for sufficient time 

before the tests are conducted for the bag materials to come to equilibrium.

(4) Bags submitted under this performance specification shall conform to all other 
PL6 Page 4 of 21

applicable material, construction, and performance specifications.

B. Test Laboratories

The contractor may use any independent or private laboratory that is capable of 

conducting the performance test for impact resistance described in Section 2.5. 

However, the Government is aware of only the following domestically located 

independent or private laboratories that have such capability:

Michigan State University

School of Packaging

East Lansing, MI 48824-1223

(517) 355-9580

http://www.packaging.msu.edu/

Lansmont Corporation

1287 Reamwood

Sunnyvale, CA 94089

(408) 734-9724

Lansmont Corporation

6539 Westland Way, Suite 24

Lansing, MI 48917

(888) 526-7666

www.lansmont.com

Rutgers University

Packaging Science and 

Engineering Dept.

P.O. Box 909

Piscataway, NJ 08854

(201) 932-3679

http://www.packaging.rutgers.edu/

Ten-E Packaging Services, Inc.

1666 County Road 74

Newport, MN 55055

(651) 459-0671

http://www.ten-e.com/

Section 2.6 TEST FREQUENCY

A. All testing specified shall be performed and documented. 

B. The air permeability and ultraviolet resistance tests shall, as a minimum, be performed 

annually and when a change in the formulation/design of the fabric is being made. 

C. The performance test for impact resistance shall be performed when a change in the 

formulation/design of the fabric is being made.

D. The slide angle test shall, as a minimum, be performed in-house for every 10,000 lineal 

meters of fabric production. Testing performed in-house is not required to be performed 

under the specified temperature and humidity requirements. In addition, the slide angle 

test shall, as a minimum, be performed annually by an outside testing facility and when 

a change in the formulation/design of the fabric is being made. This testing shall be 

performed in accordance with all contract requirements, including the specified 

temperature and humidity.
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E. All supporting test and quality control documentation shall be retained and made 

available for review by the Government for a minimum of three years after final 

payment under the contract.

Part 3 MARKING REQUIREMENTS

Section 3.1 MARKINGS

A. The bag shall be marked in the color specified in the markings exhibits. Any markings 

not shown on the exhibits shall be printed in blue. When printed on the bag, the colors 

blue and red shall match the Pantone Matching System (PMS) chart numbers 280 and 

200, respectively, to the extent practicable.

B. All dimensions are approximate. Unless otherwise specified, all characters shall be in 

normal block print.

C. The US flag shall be 7 inches high and 12 3⁄4 inches in total width on the front and back 

of the applicable bag, see exhibits

D. The letters USA shall be Univers black (75) oblique, or Helvetica extra bold with 70% 

scaling and -70 tracking or equivalent to match the style as shown in the exhibits. The 

letters USA shall be 6 1/2 inches high and 12 1/2 inches in total width. The three 

stripes adjacent USA shall be 1 1/4 inches high and printed as close to the edges of the 

bag as possible, not to exceed 1 1/2 inches from any edge.

E. The USAID vertical identity, including the logo, brand name, and tagline, shall be 

printed in the same style as shown in the markings exhibits sized approximately 7 1⁄2 

inches high and 9 3/8 inches in total width. The USAID logo shall be 4 1⁄4 inches in 

diameter. The USAID brand name shall be 2 inches in height. The tagline “FROM 

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE” shall be 1⁄2 inch in height, see exhibits. The USAID 

vertical logo is available to download at https://www.usaid.gov/branding. 

F. The USDA logo shall be 5 1⁄2 inches high and 7 3⁄4 inches in total width, see exhibits.

G. The commodity name shall be 1 1/2 inch print. Immediately below the commodity 

name on the front and back panels insert additional commodity description in 5/8 inch 

print, if applicable. See Exhibit A for appropriate commodity name/additional 

commodity description that shall be printed on each bag.

H. The net weight, contract number and the statement “NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED” shall be 3/4 inch print. The bag dimensions and Standard Marking 

Requirement (SMR) or Language Marking Requirement (LMR) number shall be 1/2 

inch print. The contract number, net weight, and SMR or LMR number shall be at the 

bottom of the bag, centered. See exhibits.

I. The symbol indicating “USE NO HOOKS” shall be 2 3/4 inches in height. See 
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exhibits.

J. The letters or symbols used in the language markings for LMR-1, LMR-3, LMR-4, 

LMR-5, LMR-7, and LMR-8 should be sized approximately 1 5/8 inches, see exhibits. 

The language marking for LMR-2 and LMR-6 should be sized to fit as shown in the 

exhibits.

K. Lot numbers, production codes or any other means of identification required to meet 

traceability requirements shall be as small as possible, yet legible.

Section 3.2 MARKING DESCRIPTIONS

The Government shall furnish required markings within two business days after the date of the 

contract. The procurement of containers should be deferred for at least two business days after 

the date of the contract.

The following standard marking requirements may be requested under the contract:

Standard Marking Requirement #1 (SMR-1)

USAID – Distribution

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, “SMR-1,” 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit SMR-1, front

Back: Identical to front. See exhibit SMR-1, back.

Standard Marking Requirement #2 (SMR-2)

FAS - Distribution

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED," USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, “SMR-2”, and 

use no hooks symbol. See exhibit SMR-2, front. 

Back: Identical. See exhibit SMR-2, back.

Standard Marking Requirement #3 (SMR-3)

USAID – Monetization 

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, USAID logo, contract number, net weight, 

dimensions, “SMR-3,” and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit SMR-3, front.

Back: Identical to front. See exhibit SMR-3, back.

Standard Marking Requirement #4 (SMR-4)

FAS or USAID - Monetization 

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, contract number, net weight, 

dimensions, “SMR-4,” and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit SMR-4, front. 

Back: Identical. See exhibit SMR-4, back.

Language Marking Requirement #1 (LMR-1)

USAID – Distribution for North Korea
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Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-1” 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-1, front.

Back: US Flag, the commodity name, North Korean language panel, and “LMR-1” 

only. See exhibit LMR-1, back.

Language Marking Requirement #2 (LMR-2)

USAID – Distribution for Afghanistan, with Pashtu and Dari

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-2" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-2, front.

Back: US Flag, the commodity name, Pashtu and Dari language panel, and “LMR-2” 

only. See exhibit LMR-2, back.

Language Marking Requirement #3 (LMR-3)

USAID – Distribution for South Africa Region

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-3" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-3, front. 

Back: US Flag, the commodity name, English language panel, and “LMR-3” only. See 

exhibit LMR-3, back.

Language Marking Requirement #4 (LMR-4)

USAID – Distribution for Iraq with Arabic

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-4" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-4, front. 

Back: US Flag, the commodity name, Arabic language panel, and “LMR-4” only. See 

exhibit LMR-4, back.

Language Marking Requirement #5 (LMR-5)

FAS – Distribution for North Korea

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-5.” 

See exhibit LMR-5, front.

Back: USA with stripes, the commodity name, North Korean language panel, and 

“LMR-5” only. See exhibit LMR-5, back.

Language Marking Requirement #6 (LMR-6)

FAS – Distribution for Afghanistan, with Pashtu and Dari

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-6.” 

See exhibit LMR-6, front.

Back: USA with stripes, the commodity name, Pashtu and Dari language panel, and 

“LMR-6” only. See exhibit LMR-6, back.
PL6 Page 8 of 21

Language Marking Requirement #7 (LMR-7)

FAS – Distribution for South Africa Region

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-7.” 

See exhibit LMR-7, front. 

Back: USA with stripes, the commodity name, English language panel, and “LMR-7” 

only. See exhibit LMR-7, back.

Language Marking Requirement #8 (LMR-8)

FAS – Distribution for Iraq with Arabic

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-8.” 

See exhibit LMR-8, front 

Back: USA with stripes, the commodity name, Arabic language panel, and “LMR-8” 

only. See exhibit LMR-8, back.

Section 3.3 EMPTY BAG DIMENSIONS

A. All bags shall be marked with the empty dimensions as follows:

Gusseted Bags Face Width X Gusseted Width X Finished Length

Flat Tube Bags Face Width X Finished Length

B. The dimensions shall be printed at the bottom of the bag, centered, see exhibits.

C. The finished size of the circular woven polypropylene bags will be determined by the 

contractor, unless otherwise specified by the contracting officer.

Section 3.4 CONTAINERS WITH INCORRECT MARKINGS

A. Any labels, bags, cans, can lids, cases, or any other type of packaging (hereinafter 

referred to as "containers") displaying incorrect markings may be used under a 

Government contract provided that the incorrect markings are obliterated and correct 

markings are applied in a permanent manner with approval of the contracting officer.

B. The appearance of containers in commercial or other channels either filled or unfilled 

bearing markings identifying the containers as part of a Government contract may 

cause the Government expense in determining whether commodities have been diverted 

from authorized use and in answering inquiries. The contractor shall take all necessary 

action to prevent the appearance in commercial or other channels of containers and 

container materials bearing any markings required under a Government contract, 

including those held by the contractor or others; e.g., overruns, misprints, etc. The 

contractor shall ensure that any container from a Government contract that appears in 

commercial or other channels shall have all markings required under this contract 

permanently obliterated.
PL6 Page 9 of 21

Exhibit A 

List of Commodity Names Printed on 50 Kilogram Woven Polypropylene Bags

Commodity 

Requirements

Commodity Name Commodity 

Requirements

Commodity Name

Bulgur / SoyFortified Bulgur 

(BWSF)

BULGUR Dry Edible 

Beans (DEB)

BLACK BEANS

SOY-FORTIIFIED BULGUR BLACKEYE BEANS

Buckwheat (BWP) BUCKWHEAT GROATS DARK RED KIDNEY BEANS

BUCKWHEAT GRITS LIGHT RED KIDNEY BEANS

BUCKWHEAT FLOUR GARBANZO BEANS

Bagged Grain 

(KCBG)

WHEAT

HARD RED WINTER

GREAT NORTHERN BEANS

WHEAT

SOFT WHITE

PEA BEANS

WHEAT

HARD RED SPRING

PINK BEANS

WHEAT

NORTHERN SPRING

PINTO BEANS

SORGHUM SMALL RED BEANS

YELLOW CORN SMALL WHITE BEANS

YELLOW CORN

YELLOW SOYBEANS

Milled Rice (MR) MILLED RICE

LONG GRAIN

Peas and Lentils 

(PL)

LENTILS

MILLED RICE

MEDIUM GRAIN

SPLIT GREEN PEAS

MILLED RICE

SHORT GRAIN

SPLIT YELLOW PEAS

MILLED RICE

PARBOILED

SMOOTH GREEN DRY PEAS

Wheat Flour/ Bread 

Flour (WFBF)

FLOUR

ALL PURPOSE

SMOOTH YELLOW DRY PEAS

BREAD FLOUR

50 KG 

Polypropylene 

Bags (KCPBAGS)

WHEAT

CORN

SORGHUM

SOYBEANS

SOYBEAN MEAL
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Exhibits SMR-1 through SMR4 and LMR1 through LMR8
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